UNIFORM SMARTNESS

Military Creases and Ironing

When the dress uniforms are pressed, make sure the uniforms are inside out so that the creases are inverted when you put it on.Ironing Navy Enlisted Uniforms

Below is a graphic representation of how the enlisted uniform is folded and ironed. Although the uniform depicted is the dress whites, the dress blues are folded and ironed exactly the same way. We are using the whites as they are easier to see the creases than are the blues.

First of all: the jumper and trousers (whites and blues only) are NEVER creased from the outside. ALWAYS turn the jumper and trousers wrong-side out as shown below.

The JUMPER is folded down the middle with the collar flap extended. Lie the jumper back down and fold the right sleeve across the front and match it up with the left sleeve. Smooth the jumper out so the crease extends evenly from the top of the collar with the bottom of the waist band. Use a damp piece of sheet between the hot iron and the fabric as the synthetic fabric will melt or discolor if the iront is too hot. The damp cloth also creats steam that sets in a sharp crease. Begin ironing along the back of the jumper as seen in the picture (second on right), moving from the tip of the collar all the way down; then crease the sleeves while still folded in half. Unfold the jumper so it lies flat on its back. You should see an inward crease extending from the V-neck down to the waist band. Make sure there are no multiple creases. Fold both sides of the collar flap in toward the center crease and using the dampened cloth, carefully iron the creases in on both sides (be careful not to iron out the center crease. There should now be three sharp creases in the collar flap with an equal distance between each crease.

TROUSERS: Fold the trousers
w
rong-side out and lie them flat on the ironing board seam to seam. When finished, the two creases will run along
the outside edge of the pant leg, NOT THE FRONT, with the corresponding crease runing along the inseam.

When ironing is completed, you can turn the uniform right-side out and you should see that all creases EXCEPT the front middle crease and the three creases on the collar flap are turned inward, not out.

Male Dress Blues are done the same way. Females do not wear the dress blue jumper and trousers. Females do wear the dress white jumper and trousers though.

*** IMPORTANT NOTE ***Sea Cadet Dress blues MUST be professionally dry-cleaned. Never wash your dress blues in a washing machine. Do not let the dry cleaners press your uniform. They will press it in incorrectly.

How to Fold and Tie Your Neckerchief

Click on images below to enlarge.

Rolling Your Sleeves

The sleeves of the Camouflage Utility uniforms or more commonly known as BDUs, and the Navy Working Uniforms, also known as NWUs may be rolled up during times of warm weather. However, the method of rolling the sleeves are different between the BDUs and the NWUs.

For the BDU, roll sleeves inside out, forming a roll approximately 3 inches wide, and terminating at a point approximately 2 inches above the elbow.

Lay the uniform on a flat surface, face up and slee
ves extended out. Button the button at the end of the sleeve to the largest setting.

Roll the sleeve inside-out in three inch rolls upwards for five to seven rolls, depending on arm length and roll is approximately 2 inches above elbow.

For the NWU, the process is a little more complex. The sleeves will be rolled with the

inside out, with the cuff folded over, forming a roll approximately 3
inches wide, and terminating at a point approximately 2 inches above the
elbow.

Lay the uniform on a flat surface, face up and sleeves extended out, with the button at the end of the sleeve unbuttoned.

Flip the sleeves inside-out by folding the cuffs of the sleeve up towards the armpit area. Pull it up until it
almost touches the inside seam of the armpit region.

Roll the bottoms of the inside-out sleeves in three inch rolls upwards until you reach the cuffs.

Fold the end of the cuff down over the rolled portion of the sleeve.

Secure the button and flap. Repeat on opposite sleeve.

Watch the video below for a demostration on how to roll the NWU sleeves.

Boot and Shoe Shine

The quality of a sailor is often measured by how much time, effort and care he/she
expends on their boots.

Here's how to apply that high-gloss spit shine:

Spread a medium-thick layer of paste polish over the portion of the boot to be spit shined.

Allow it to dry for 5 to 10 minutes.

Wrap
a soft, clean cloth around your index finger so that it is smooth (no
wrinkles). Alternately, you can use a cotton ball. Dip your finger or
the cotton ball into a container of water. The cloth/cotton should be
wet, but not dripping.

Buff the dried polish (using a circular motion) with the wet cloth/cotton ball, until the wax starts to become shiney.

Still
using the damp rag on your finger, apply a fine layer of polish in a
circular motion and keep on rubbing lightly until a hazy shine develops.

Using the (now) damp cloth, or cotton ball, keep applying THIN coats of wax, buffing them with a small circular motion.

When the boot is highly glossed, use a clean dry soft cloth or a shining brush to give it a final buff.

Tips:

The
reason to use a wet cloth is to stop the fine coats of polish sticking
to the cloth and to encourage the polish to stick to the leather.

You want to keep on building up thin layers of wax until you have a completely smooth surface that gives the glossy shine.

After
the first heavy coat of polish you must use small amounts of polish to
build up the shine. If you use too much polish, it will dissolve the
base you have already built up.

T-shirts work well for the cloth material, as do cloth diapers.

What You Need:

Shoe Polish (for best results, use Kiwi Parade Gloss)

Cloth

Water

UNIFORM COMPONENTS

Name Tape and Branch Tape Placement

The name tape should be sewn above and flush with the top of the wearer’s right pocket.

The “USNSCC” or "USNLCC" tape should be sewn above and flush with the top of the wearer’s left shirt pocket.

Another name tape should be sewn above and flush with the top of the right rear trouser pocket.

The name tape and branch tapes for the NWU are also sewn as previously described. However there is one added difference. A U.S. Naval Sea Cadets flash must be sewn on the right pocket.

The material to make the NWU is strictly authorized for Navy personel only, and the U.S. Navy has the only rights for its use. The Navy's logo is embroided on the left pocket. Under new regulations, this logo must be visible at all times to meet USNSCC uniform regulations.

Shoulder Flashes and Rating Badges

NSCC Dress Uniforms

The Sea Cadet patch (flash) is sewn on both sleeves, of the dress uniforms centered on the sleeve and one inch below the shoulder seam.

Rating badges shall be worn centered on the rightsleeve of uniform shirts. CPO and Petty Officers will wear their badges 1/8 inch below the NSCC Shoulder flash, measured from the top of the badge to the bottom of the shoulder flash.

Non-Petty Officers will wear their chevrons 3 1/8 inch below the NSCC
shoulder flash, measured from the valley of the chevron to the bottom of the shoulder flash.

Right Sleeve Right Sleeve Left Sleeve

Make sure that the EAGLES
ARE FACING FORWARD!

<--- The NSCC Rating Badges and Chevrons

NLCC Dress Uniforms

The Navy League patch (flash) is sewn only on the left sleeve of the dress uniforms, centered on the sleeve and one inch below the shoulder seam.

Rating badges shall be worn centered on the rightsleeve of uniform
shirts. All rating badges will be worn midway from the shoulder seam to the elbow, from the center of the badge or chevron.

Right Sleeve Right Sleeve Left Sleeve

<--- The NLCC Rating Badges and Chevrons

BDU & NWU Uniforms

On both the BDU and NWU uniforms, CPOs, SLPOs and Petty Officers wear their ratings on their collars.